Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

Today I am 30 weeks and 2 days pregnant with you.  We are counting down daily to your due date--68 days to go!  Of course, I think you will be late, so we probably have many more than 68 days until your arrival.  Your daddy and I absolutely can't wait to meet you.  To us it feels like absolutely forever until you will be here--and then at the same time, we also have plenty to do to occupy us in the meantime! 

Lately we have been getting your nursery ready and also doing some things around the house.  We know you will keep us pretty busy for a while, so we are trying to do as much as we can before you get here.  I love working on your nursery, and I must admit that occasionally before bedtime I sit in your room and daydream about you.  

We have also been talking about your name a lot, because I am ready to have it 100% settled!  We have been going back and forth on two middle names for a few months now, but we picked out your first name (ALMOST for sure) a while ago.  We still might change our minds again, but I THINK you have an official name now.  We hope you love your name as much as we do!

Some day you might want to know what it was like for me to be pregnant with you.  Just in case, here are a few things for you to know:

--You are our little miracle baby.  Daddy never lets me forget that you are the timely answer to prayer after we got some bad news from Mama's doctor.  We thank God for you!

--Lots of people have been praying for you from the VERY beginning, and they will keep praying for you until you are born and as you grow!

--When I heard your heartbeat for the first time at your 9-week ultrasound, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard.

--You have "eaten" lots and lots of scrambled egg sandwiches and fruit smoothies, especially in the first 16 weeks!  You made it very difficult for me to cook and eat for a while, so Daddy took over in the kitchen. He slipped lots of butter into my food (and ice cream into smoothies) to help you grow.

--If you end up not liking vegetables, well then, it started early.  I had a hard time eating vegetables during your first 4 months and it's still not always easy.

--I couldn't wait until you gave me a big bump.  I wanted the whole world to know about you!  Unfortunately it took longer than I thought it would.

--I felt you move for the first time at about 16 weeks, while we were visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Illinois.  It took me some time to know for sure that the little flutters I was feeling were definitely you!  Daddy felt you move 2 weeks later--you gave him a huge somersault, the biggest I had felt up to that point.  We both jumped!  He was completely in awe of you.  

--Now you move all the time.  Your favorite positions result in either kicking my bladder or kicking under my ribs.  You also get the hiccups frequently--the other night you were hiccuping quite vigorously, enough to keep me awake.  Daddy and I both love feeling you move.  Tonight he very gently pressed my belly and you kicked back at him!

--If you turn out to be a little musician, it wouldn't be surprising considering how much violin-playing you have already heard!  Or maybe you will be an athlete.  If so, it will certainly be in a summer sport as you have already helped cheer on the USA in the Summer Olympics!

--Even though you aren't here yet, you are already teaching me so much about what it means to be a mama.  I have worried a lot about you, and I am learning to pray more and relax in your Heavenly Father's care for you.  

Your daddy and I are completely in love with you already, but we know that our love is only a shadow of how much your Heavenly Father loves you.  We pray that you will trust Him very early in your life!

Love,

Mama